Možnosti využití hmyzu jako potraviny v podmínkách České republiky

The growing interest in edible insects in the Czech Republic is confronted with a minimal amount of information available on this subject. Therefore, the main aim of this work was to map the possibilities of using insects as food in the Czech Republic. To meet the objectives, two hypotheses were defined: 1. Nutritional value of insects bred in the Czech Republic is comparable with the nutritional value of common foods and insects is the alternative in human nutrition. 2. The professionals and laymen in the Czech Republic are ready for including insects as food in the consumer basket. Methodically the objectives were addressed through: a) analyzes of selected nutritional parameters of seven insect species: migratory locust (Locusta migratoria), mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), superworm (Zophobas atratus), honey bee (Apis mellifera), wax moth (Galleria mellonella), silkworm (Bombyx mori), field cricket (Gryllus assimilis); b) analyzes of purine derivates in three species of insects: mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), superworm (Zophobas atratus), field cricket (Gryllus assimilis); c) a survey regarding the use and insect breeding among the consumers, breeders and processors; d) gathering information of the legislative framework from legal authorities of the Czech Republic and the Novel Food Working Group of European Union in Brussels. Analyses proved a high nutritional value of selected species, but also confirmed statistically significant differences in the nutrient content of nutrientss and purines between the species. The survey confirmed the different public attittude to the species, the best score was gained by mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), the worst by silkworm (Bombyx mori). Breeders are willing to produce edible insects for entomophagy. Analysis of legislation and questioning showed that the legislative framework for entomophagy does not yet exist in the Czech Republic. Aims of the study were met, Hypothesis 1 was confirmed completely, Hypothesis 2 only partially. While consumers, farmers and processors are prepared for the edible insects to enter the market in the Czech Republic, the legislative framework is yet to be created